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A project to cover 10 square miles of federal land with sun-powered engines to provide electricity to San Diego Gas & Electric is moving forward before the state Energy Commission.

The project, known as Imperial Valley Solar, would generate 709 megawatts when the sun is shining, more than a typical new natural gas plant.

It relies on Stirling engines — a different technology that most people are familiar with — which use heat from the sun to turn generators.

Construction will cause damage to wildlife, cultural sites, land use and views, and it’s inconsistent with the land use plan for that part of the county, according to a 702-page proposed decision issued by the commission.

But those concerns are trumped by its benefits in increasing the amount of power generated without using fossil fuels, Commissioner Jeffrey Byron said.

The project is a bit smaller than the 750 megawatt one originally proposed.

The full energy commission will not vote on the proposal for at least a month to give the public a chance to comment on it.

Commission members have proposed approving 2,800 megawatts of solar power. On Wednesday they approved the state’s first big solar farm in 20 years, in Kern County.

The federal Bureau of Land Management is also considering the proposal.

Developers Tessera Solar and Stirling Energy Systems are hoping for quick approval so they can take advantage of federal subsidies designed to foster solar power.

Opponents say the technology is unproven and the damage to the desert unwarranted.